How Your Foot Arches Can Cause Back Pain
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Back pain can develop for a myriad of reasons, some of which are hard to pinpoint. When spine pain develops, most patients and doctors assume that an issue in the spine is causing the problem, and while that’s a smart place to start, it’s not always the source of your issue. One body area that can contribute to back pain is your feet; more specifically, your arches. Below, we examine how fallen arches and back pain can be linked.
Why Do Foot Arches Contribute To Back Pain?
As we age, the ligaments and tendons that contribute to your foot’s arch will naturally loosen, which leads to sinking or fallen arches. Fallen arches can contribute to spine pain for a number of reasons, including:
- Posture changes
- Gait alteration
- Increased impact as more stress is channelled to your spine
If fallen arches change your posture, you’ll inherently begin putting stress in areas that aren’t used to shouldering that much weight. Oftentimes these abnormal forces stress the lumbar portion of your spine, which can lead to pain. Similarly, if fallen arches change the way you walk, pressure will be displaced differently in your body, and again, your spine is usually the area that is most affected by this change.
Symptoms of spine pain caused in part by fallen arches typically includes pain in the lower portion of your spine, and you may also experience numbness, a tingling sensation or muscle weakness. Symptoms don’t usually appear in the cervical area of the spine, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
Fallen arches typically contribute to two different types of spine pain. The first is spine pain from muscle injury or overuse, which is common if arch issues change the way stress and weight is displaced in the body. The second type is through nerve impingement or compression, and this is brought upon by changes in spinal alignment due to posture changes or shifting structures.
Treating Back Pain Caused By Fallen Arches
Treating back pain caused by fallen arches involves working to cushion and support the fallen arches. By finding an orthotic insert that contours to the foot and redistributes stress to appropriate areas of the body, many individuals notice pain relief in just a couple of days. Cushioned inserts, combined with rest, anti-inflammatory or pain relieving medications and strength training exercises can help to alleviate spinal muscle pain caused by fallen arches.
If, however, your spine pain is caused by nerve impingement or soft tissue compression, orthotic inserts may not get the job done. Similar conservative care techniques will be used to try and free the compressed structure, but there’s also a chance that surgery would be on the table. If a shifted disc is causing the compression, a minimally invasive surgical operation can decompress the area and help rid you of spine pain. Surgery is typically the last resort, as conservative care techniques tend to have positive outcomes for the majority of patients.
Minnesota Spine Doctor
So if you’ve been dealing with back pain, take a look at your feet, if you believe fallen arches could be contributing to your pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi today. He’ll help uncover the root cause of your pain and provide you with all your treatment options. For more information, contact Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
